The Exhibition for the development of cities, corridors and special economic zones “Expo Béton” is a major current event which takes place in Kolwezi, capital of the province of Lualaba. This year, the 7th edition of the show focuses on the theme “Kolwezi-Lualaba, Eldorado of the Southern Corridor of the DRC-SADC”.
The main objective of this event is to analyze and promote the development of the southern development corridor of the DRC. The creation of this corridor dates back to 1996, when the South African Department of Transport and Trade and Industry launched the Special Development Initiatives Program (PIDS) to boost the rainbow nation’s economy .
Since then, economic agreements have been signed between the Congolese government and neighboring countries to promote the development of key sectors of the Southern Corridor, such as urban planning, infrastructure, energy, housing, logistics, SMEs, commerce, multimodal transport and industry.
The mining province of Lualaba, with Kolwezi in the lead, is destined to become the locomotive of this regional development corridor. Coordination between the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries such as Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa is essential to accelerate integral development at the national level and subregional.
This year’s edition of the Kolwezi Construction Fair therefore aims to encourage developers, legislators and decision-makers from Southern Corridor member countries to transform this area into a profitable space for all. This includes establishing a multimodal structure and a regional development corridor focused on multi-sector growth.
The event provides for the participation of customary authorities, construction professionals, military engineering corps, professors from higher and university institutions, students, real estate developers and hardware store owners. High-level sessions with experts from the construction sector, open days, BtoB sessions and a sponsor dinner are on the program.
The 7th edition of the Exhibition for the Development of Cities, Corridors and Special Economic Zones “Expo Béton” promises to be a key event to stimulate the development of the Southern Corridor of the DRC-SADC. Kolwezi and the province of Lualaba have the possibility of becoming a dynamic and attractive economic El Dorado for the region.